Chandigarh, April 21, 2005:
An IBM centre for e-governance, the first of its kind in the country, opened at the Punjab Engineering College complex here today. The UT Administrator, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), inaugurated the centre, a flagship venture of the Information Technology Department of the Chandigarh Administration. It will promote e-governance applications and develop the use of open-source technologies.

The centre will also enable SPIC, a society entrusted with the task of software development and training activities for the Administration and also for the public, to develop high-end applications for e-governance projects.

Addressing IT professionals, General Rodrigues advocated an ‘IT mission’ for society and emphasised the need for utilising IT for upgrading the quality of life of the 260 million people of the country living below the poverty line.

He said these innovative ventures must be directed at removing hardships of the vulnerable sections of society and empowering them to cope with the stress of poverty, disease and ignorance. He said social responsibility and responsiveness towards society should be the main goal while advancing these IT programmes.

Emphasising the need for ensuring Indian solutions for Indian problems, General Rodrigues said this centre must be suitably structured to provide high-quality employment-oriented training to young professionals of the region. Mr Satish Kaushal, Country Manager, IBM, also spoke on the occasion.